Iyalodde / Brenda Navarrete

Evelyn García Hernández
26.07.2024
6 minutes Reading

A few days into this summer season, the charismatic percussionist, vocalist and composer Brenda Navarrete announced through her social networks that her latest work would soon be available on all digital platforms. The launching took place on the afternoon of Sunday, July 14 at the Ateneo de La Habana.. The event, which Navarrete herself described as "a conversation among friends", took place as an artistic-spiritual journey among sunflowers, incense, Santiago rum and good vibes.

Iyalodde is one of the many titles used to honor and refer to Oshun. The term can be broken down into two parts: iyameaning mother or woman, and loddewhich can be interpreted as one who possesses power and important qualities. This epithet gives name to Brenda Navarrete's new single and initiates the first of several trilogies dedicated to the orishas of the Yoruba pantheon that will later make up her second phonogram entitled Agbara, which translated into English means energy.

The theme is a sung prayer that Navarrete builds from two fundamental elements: his own voice, as the main thread of the main melody and the harmonic drawings, and the batá drums, used in Afro-Cuban sacred ceremonies, as the support of the rhythmic band. The choice of these elements in the production of the musical theme denotes the intention of transmitting a spiritual message without distractions. The sound of the bells at the beginning; the pure voice, without additives and the energetic force of the drum act as a bridge between the earthly and the divine.

The song's lyrics, in ancient Yoruba, are based on some of the most beautiful instances of the Afro-Cuban cult of Oshun. This linguistic approach not only brings cultural authenticity to the work, but also strengthens its connection to the spiritual roots of Afro-Cuban religion. The minimalism of the musical production and the richness of the lyrical content reflect a deep respect for tradition while denoting actuality.

On the other hand, the videoclip of Iyalodde is distinguished by aesthetic sobriety, an approach that Lena Hernandez, director of the visuals, deliberately uses to enhance the spiritual message of the song and focus attention on the figure of Brenda as a reflection of Oshun's power and grace.

Produced entirely in a single location, the clip featured highly symbolic elements such as the batá drums which, although not the center of attention, allude to the spiritual force from which Navarrete drinks and, by extension, to Ibbú añáone of the best known paths of the orisha. Sunflowers, associated with this deity, also appear as key visual elements. The color palette used, which includes ocher and golden tones, as well as the makeup, with an abundance of glitter, give an air of sophistication and modernity while evoking traditional symbols of Oshun such as gold and wealth.

The costume design distances itself from the traditional costumes of the Afro-Cuban religion. Instead, other pieces were chosen, such as a large veil that, from the beginning, evokes a virginal sense and echoes the image of Caridad del Cobre, the saint with whom Oshun is syncretized in our island. Similarly, the tight-fitting garments were used as symbols of sensuality and femininity. This stylistic choice not only offers a contemporary vision of the deity, but also maintains a subtle connection with our cultural roots.

Photos by: Josh Diego (@snt_dieu) and Henry Godines (@henry_godines). Courtesy of MadWoman Agency.

Lena Hernandez's decision to opt for a cinematic aesthetic with longer shots that allow focus on the music and slow movements, along with the careful handling of the symbolic elements, creates a profound visual and spiritual experience while moving the work away from any traditional representation, offering instead a contemporary and personal vision that celebrates the orisha in an innovative way.

Iyalodde transcends the merely musical. Each note, rhythm, and gesture in the audiovisual becomes symbols charged with ritual and cultural significance. Its compact duration and the audiovisual production, which privileges intimate and prolonged shots, adapts to contemporary sensibilities and global audiences. In another sense, its minimalist approach to music-visuals amplifies the emotional intensity of the performance and highlights the continuing relevance of ancestral spiritual practices associated with the cult of Oshun in today's context.

The song and music video not only honor Oshun as a divinity, but also offer a look that accentuates female empowerment, without falling into stereotypical representations. Brenda and Lena manage to capture the essence of the Yoruba deity of love and fertility, communicate it effectively, and position it as a current artistic product. The result is an experience that is respectful of tradition and relevant to the audience.

Yes ok My world, Brenda Navarrete's debut album produced by Alain Pérez and released in 2018, was the result of her experience, learning and previous musical influences; Iyalodde and the trilogies to come will be part of the consolidation of her identity, of a deeper and more personal exploration of herself, and of the need to show her different facets from what each orisha represents in her spiritual universe.